Power outages reported as winds pick up

A wind advisory is in effect for today, and several pockets of power outages are within Oakland County, according to DTE Energy.

While total outages for Southeast Michigan had fluctuated throughtout the day, outage numbers at press time floated around 15,000 in scattered areas.

The largest local outage is 1,512 customers in the Farmington Hills and West Bloomfield area, primarily between 12 and 13 Mile roads and between Haggerty and Farmington roads, where trees have caused the outage. It is expected to be restored between 2:41 p.m. and 4:41 p.m. Friday.

In the area Beverly Hills, mostly north of 13 Mile Road, 518 customers are without power. The cause is under investigation but the early report for possible restoration is between 1:30 and 3:30 p.m. Friday, according to DTE’s online map.

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A larger geographical area in the Brandon area west of Oxford is impacted, too, but only 555 customers are powerless. The area is just west of Baldwin and north of Seymour Lake Road.

Small pockets of less than 100 customers are popping up on the DTE map, including two spots just east of Lake Orion.

Another 138 customers are without power near the Pontiac-Sylvan Lake border off of Telegraph Road. Another 181 customers are without power in northern Troy, west of Livernois Road and just south of South Boulevard. Both of these were to be restored during the early afternoon Friday.

DTE Energy spokeswoman Erica Donerson said although she hadn’t seen wind gusts reach a predicted 50 mph in Southeast MIchigan, more outages could come if winds climb higher.

“We haven’t received any calls about extreme damage from the wind,” Donerson said, noting that the utility prepared for the worst possible outcome, but hadn’t had to use many of its workers that were kept on standby.

Several school districts in northern Oakland County cancelled classes due to road conditions, as many problems on dirt roads slowed traffic.

The strong winds also caused scattered power outages in parts of Michigan and were expected to make travel difficult travel in some areas.

According to Accuweather.com, the high today will be about 36 degrees but wind gusts could approach 40 mph in Pontiac. Periods of sunshine will come and go as clouds and a possible snow shower pass through. The low tonight will be about 23 degrees.

Pupils in Clarkston, Rochester, Oxford, Holly, and Brandon as well as numerous private schools stayed home when classes were cancelled.

Tim Arrick ‏(@ArrickSports) tweeted us: “@TheOaklandPress, Howell schools were closed as well and to be honest, I have no idea why. Roads were dry on my drive in.”

However, many using dirt roads were stranded as icy conditions made them impassable.

Tamra Willis ‏(@tamrawillis70) tweeted us: “@TheOaklandPress, UGH the drive was horrific!!! Between the billion & one pot holes and the iced cover roads. It was not pleasant.”

At the Rochester Hills and Oakland Township border, Dutton Road between Brewster and Livernois roads, where there is a large hill, was closed for most of Thursday night and Friday morning due to the slippery road conditions.

National Weather Service meteorologist Evan Webb in Grand Rapids says “it’s going to be a very windy day.” In the western part of the state along Lake Michigan, winds gusted above 35 mph Friday morning. Gusts up to around 50 mph are predicted.

An inch or two of fresh snow is forecast in western Michigan. Combined with the winds, visibility will be low at times.

A blizzard warning was issued for parts of the Upper Peninsula, where 6 to 7 inches of snow fell in places on Thursday. Storm totals could exceed a foot by the time the storm wraps up Friday.

The Associated Press contributed to this story.

About the Author

Stephen Frye is online editor at TheOaklandPress and has covered police and courts. Reach the author at steve.frye@oakpress.com
or follow Stephen on Twitter: @stevefrye.